Adjara. On July 9, the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development held the meeting in the Batumi democratic Engagement Center for the young on the topic: "Elections and me". The meeting aimed at informing the youth about the election system and procedures and boosting their motivation to participate in the elections. Meeting participants discussed why are elections so important for our political system, and what are the powers of agencies that we elect. At the end of the meeting the young were provided with the brochure titled "Elections and Me", which is funded by the Council of Europe.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On July 6 the Civil Society Institute has organized a meeting of local civil society organizations and journalists in Akhaltsikhe on the following topic: CSOs and the society. The meeting aimed to launch the discussion on relations between the CSOs and media. The participants discussed the need for the right communication strategies of CSOs and the role of media as the civil society actor. Demonstrated at the meeting was the documentary produced by the Civil Society Institute, which relates about the role and importance of CSOs, their historic development in Georgia and their current obstacles, challenges, and ways of solution of problems. Interesting discussion was held after the documentary, which was broadcast by the local television (9th Channel).

Guria. The local self-government has answered 10 questions of the civil society in the Ozurgeti Democratic Engagement Center on July 7. The meeting was organized by the Ozurgeti Democratic Engagement Center. To collect questions of concern, the Center staff have approached the representatives of the civil society in advance, who have sent questions of interest to them to the Center. Local self-government has prepared relevant responses. The following topics were discussed at the meeting: decentralization, budgetary priorities of the municipality, transparency of the Sakrebulo activities, construction permits, selection of self-government servants, attracting foreign investors, public transport, and women's engagement in the local self-government activities. Chairman of the municipality Sakrebulo Aleko Mameshvili has answered the questions of the civil society. The Democratic Engagement Center is funded by the US Government. It offers the public a favorable place to gather and engage in open debate and discourse on many issues of public concern. The process of supporting the dialogue aims to foster the civic engagement of citizens.

Samtskhe-Javakheti.On 6 July, lawyers of the Union of Democrat Meskhetians held the field consultation meeting with the residents of village Tskruti of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality. The meeting was organized within the framework of "Right to Protect Your Right" project. Lawyers of the Union of Democrat Meskhetians hold periodic meetings with the population of the Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, and Ninotsminda Municipalities and provide them with legal consultations on the ground.

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Justice organized the forum on July 6 concerning the promotion of democratic and transparent court administration. Stephen Haykin, the Mission Director for Georgia of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has opened the forum. Tamar Chugoshvili, Chairwoman of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, has presented to the audience the recommendations on strengthening of the judges' self-government and individual judges. In addition, presented at the forum was the report drafted by the Coalition, which discusses the issues affecting the pending court reforms. Transparency of the court system is among the most acute problems - the existing rule of photo, video and audio recording at the court sessions, in the opinion of the report's authors, does not meet the transparency requirements. Further, the report emphasizes the importance of increased role of the judges' self-government in the judicial administration process, strengthening of individual judges, etc. Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia Konstantine Kublashvili, Secretary of the High Council of Justice of Georgia, Chairman of the Tbilisi Appellate Court Valeri Tsertsvadze, as well as NGOs and experts working in the field have attended the forum. The forum aims to widen the dialogue between the authorities and the civil society. This meeting was the fifth event from the forums organized by the Coalition.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The final event of the "Young Sakrebulo" project funded by the US was held in the Akhaltsikhe Democratic Engagement center at 2 p.m. on July 4. Non-governmental organization "Union of Democrat Meskhetians" implements the project since July 2011. The meeting aimed at evaluating the events held throughout the year and getting them familiar with the public.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The discussion meeting was held on July 3 in the office of the civil society organization "Union of Democrat Meskhetians" on the topic: "Elections and me". The meeting was chaired by the Board Chairman of the International Center for Civic Culture KoteKandelaki and the Board member of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development, political scientist GhiaNodia.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. On July 2, the Samtskhe-Javakheti Society of Democrat Women held the presentation of films directed by the "American Corner" in the Akhaltsikhe Democratic Engagement Center. 5 short films dedicated to friendship were produced within the framework of the project funded by the US Embassy. After the presentation the film participant students were awarded memorable gifts.

Shida Kartli. The Coalition "Freedom of Choice" and the Gori Democratic Engagement Center have organized a meeting on July 5 in Gori with the representatives of local civil and media organizations, students and active citizens, who are interested in improving the electoral environment. The invited guests - media expert LashaTughushi and the expert in election issues Irakli Melashvili - have led the meeting. The have informed the attendees about legislative amendments that obligate cable operators to include in their packages all channels covering the pre-election processes. The positive and negative aspects of this law were discussed. The meeting also concerned the media environment in ShidaKartli and the problems encountered in the neighboring villages of the former South Ossetia. Namely, these villages receive high quality programs of the Russian television companies, while the Georgian channels are broadcast with a flawed signal. Afterwards the discussion was held with participation of organizers and the invited guests.

Batumi. The Independent Journalists' House invites students and youngsters to get involved in the project – "Development/Popularization of Democratic Ideas among the Public and Youth".Within the project framework, after relevant training the participants will be able to prepare stories, participate in the selection of topics and guests, and become the hosts of the program. For details please see: http://presscafe.ge/index.php?newsid=181 Source: www.presscafe.ge

Batumi. On July 5, the Batumi Democratic Engagement Center hosted the public discussion on the topic: Building a ski resort on the Goderdzi Pass, which was organized by the Batumi Democratic Engagement Center. To ensure the transparency and disseminate information, the Ministry of Finances and Economy of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic and the director of company "Goderdzi Resort" have delivered the project presentation. The meeting participants have discussed the construction and economic effects of the resort, as well as the lands within the ski resort construction zone. As the Deputy Minister of Finances and Economy has stated, the issue of families within this zone will be decided on an individual basis. Representatives of the civil society, authorities, and media have attended the discussion.

Tbilisi. On July 4, several exhibition halls of the ethnographic museum were decorated with the US flags and banners depicting US products, as the "American Friendship Club" celebrates in the Tbilisi Ethnographic Museum the US Independence Day and 20th anniversary of Georgian-US diplomatic relations, with the support of the US Embassy. Under the open sky, the organization and its partners will jointly host the representatives of accredited diplomatic corps in Georgia and their family members, government representatives, business and the civil sector. "We dedicate this celebration to Americans living in Georgia (...) We will try to have American festivities and would like to have it as a gift from the Georgian people", said Ilia Zukakishvili, the President of the "American Friendship Club". On 4th of July the United States of America celebrates the 236th anniversary of independence.

Kakheti. "Be an Active Citizen" - presentation of the project bearing this title was hosted on July 4 by the Telavi Democratic Engagement Center. With the funding of the Netherlands Institute, within the framework of this project various events were organized during 2 months. Project participants have arranged the green corner in the yard of the Telavi State University. On July 4, the junior and senior students of the Telavi public schools have given presentations on democracy-related topics. Organizers of the project have awarded 17 students with the certificates and books.

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. On July 2, the "Civil Solidarity Campaign" held the rally at the Ksani prison. Participants of the rally expressed solidarity to 700 prisoners, who have addressed the Public Defender with the application, emphasizing the facts of physical or verbal insult against them. The "Civil Solidarity Campaign" joins the demands of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association. For more details please see – http://gyla.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1363%3A-q-q-&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=177&lang=ka Source – www.gyla.ge

Imereti. On July 3, the Kutaisi Office of the Public Defender of Georgia has hosted the first meeting of network of organizations focused on the persons with disabilities and operating in western Georgia. The network was set up within the framework of "Equal Opportunities for the Persons with Disabilities" project initiated by the Kutaisi Education, Development, and Employment Branch. The meeting started by presenting the participant organizations. Afterwards the report on their activities was heard, identified advocacy cases were examined, and the purpose of setting up the network was discussed. The project aims to support the persons with disabilities, and to protect, propagate, and monitor their rights.

Tbilisi. On June 28, the "European Initiative of Liberal Academy Tbilisi" presented the interim report of the research project. The report "Economic Transformation of Georgia: 20 Years of Independence" reviews the economic characteristics of the country's transformation and divides the research period in conditional two parts: before and after the Rose Revolution. The report also indicates that "the post-2003 processes are examined more thoroughly, especially when eight years have passed after the Rose Revolution, which provides certain grounds for summarizing". The interim report was drafted within the framework of the "Transformation in Georgia - Significant Results" project of the "European Initiative of Liberal Academy Tbilisi" Foundation, which is funded by the "East-West Management Institute" (EWMI)”, with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development. For details please refer to the link

Tbilisi. The "Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook" was developed by the Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research within the framework of "Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook for Regional Non-Governmental Organizations and Media". This project was implemented with the support of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and funding of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). To evaluate the relevance of the Guidebook and submit recommendatory proposals, the Institute would like you to fill the below questionnaire. Your evaluation and opinions are important for the authors of the publication. Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook (Geo) Questionnaire (Geo) Please send the filled questionnaire before July 6, 2012 at the following e-mail: info@ciesr.org

Kakheti. Training on the following topic - "Training of Trainers in Construction of Solar Collectors" - will be delivered to the local population in the Sagarejo District from June 28 to July 6. Representatives of the group implementing the project, as well as invited experts from the Netherlands and Germany will deliver the ToT. Within the scope of the training the participants will receive detailed information on how to teach interested persons the construction, installment, and further exploitation of solar collectors in home conditions. The project is implemented by the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth Georgia, within the framework of "Building Local Capacity for Domestic Solar Heating, Hot Water, and Insulation for Rural and Remote Areas in the EEC Region" project, with the financial support of the EU and the Netherlands MATRA, in partnership with the Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF).

Imereti. Organization "New Generation – New Initiative” has launched the auto-tour in all regions of Georgia within the framework of the "Georgia in Europe” project. Along with the organizers, the experts and officials working on the EU, European Neighborhood Policy and Georgia-EU integration issues will be involved in the information campaigns during the auto-tour. A seminar was dedicated to this event today, on July 2 in the Kutaisi Democratic Engagement Center. During the tour, meetings will be held as with the rural, as well as with urban residents. Representatives of all groups and ages of the public will be invited to the meetings. The auto-tour will continue tomorrow in Tsageri and Kvemo Svaneti and will end on July 10 in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

Kakheti. The Telavi Democratic Engagement Center offers another novelty to the citizens. Apart from using the library, Internet, and event rooms, soon the citizens visiting the Center will be able to read magazines and newspapers. According to the coordinator of the Telavi Democratic Engagement Center Maia Purtskhvanidze, negotiations are currently underway with the editorial offices concerning this opportunity: "Very soon persons visiting us will be able to get familiar with magazines and newspapers. We already negotiate with the editorial offices. We believe the new service is interesting and necessary for our customers.”

Tbilisi. The 4th workshop was held today in the Hotel "Ambassador" on the study conducted by the Georgian Small and Medium Enterprises Association. The study "Tax Evasion and Criminal Liability, Comparative Analysis" aims to improve the country's business environment and develop the legislative recommendations needed for attracting the investors. The study prepared by the organization reviews international experience as well. Representatives of civil society organizations attended the workshop and discussed recommendations developed within the framework of the study. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Civic Initiative for an Independent Judiciary (CIIJ) project of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, which is funded by USAID through East-West Management Institute.

Tbilisi. Persons interested in ecologically safe methodology of growing agricultural crops can get familiar with the work published by the Civil Society Institute (CSI) – "Poverty Reduction Models in Rural Areas". The work is based on the schemes and models applied in the projects implemented by CSI, which have contributed to significant improvement of economic conditions of farmers in extreme poverty. In addition, the publication includes specific proposals for introducing at a larger scale various models oriented on economic development. As already noted, CSI has years of experience in this field. Back in 2005, CSI started working on projects aimed at reducing the poverty and promoting employment (as in urban, as well as in rural areas). Key priority of the five-year intensive program funded by OXFAM GB was to improve the living conditions of extremely poor population engaged in agriculture and to promote the rights of the employed. The program was implemented in the regions of high mountainous Adjara and Samegrelo. Later, the project was implemented through funding of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, which aimed at teaching and demonstrating the production of agricultural crops through ecologically safe methodology in high mountainous Adjara. Based on the achieved results, an integrated technological-administrative model was established, which is oriented on reducing the adverse effect on environment during the agricultural production and increasing the output of agricultural crops. The work describes this very experience.